Nigeria must take advantage of its diversity, says Aregbesola

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said Nigeria needs to use its diversity to its advantage as many great nations have done.

He spoke at the weekend at a dinner organised by the state government for members of the Course 36, Batch 5 of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos, who are on a tour of the country.

Aregbesola said the country had not seized the opportunity of its diversity to build a strong and virile nation, adding: “We have not used our diversity to the best advantage. Our diversity should be a major advantage for us because most great nations of the world converted their diversity to strength and greatness.

“Our diversity too should form the basis for our growth, strength and development, rather than retard our progress.”

He hailed the vision of the founders of NIPSS and acknowledged the guiding philosophy of the institute.

Speaking for the participants, Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju hailed the governor for his focused leadership and the transformation of the state.

He said Aregbesola’s leadership style should be emulated by other states, adding that the administrations’ youth empowerment programmes were some of the best in the country.

Air Commodore Onitiju said: “In our tour of Osun, we found focused leadership. The state anthem is more than a promotion of the Omoluabi concept. The introduction of a unique selection of the leadership of the civil service is a thing that should be copied by other state.

“We also noted the governor’s aggressive effort in opening up Osun through road networks. What amuses us most was that when we followed the governor to the inauguration of roads in Osogbo, people came out in their thousands to appreciate the governor; that showed that he is loved by his people.

“We also found out about the administration’s bold effort on the airport project and the improvement and beatification of the Railway Station in Osogbo.

“The school feeding programme, which has attracted more children to enroll in schools, has positively impacted on the educational development of the state with high nutritional value for the building of young minds into robust adulthood.

“The state’s school re-classification policy, which is in tandem with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO’s) educational standard – though criticised by those who didn’t take time to study the policy, is a model for educational development.

“We only hope that Aregbesola stays focused and committed to the actualisation of his policies and programmes for the good people of Osun.”